Gun mount



Jan. 1l, 1944. J. c. TROTTER 2,339,226

GUN MOUNT Filed July 2, 1941 3 SheetS--Sheet l INVENTOR lgmcmftef Jam .11, 1944- J.' c. TRo'r'rER 25339226 GUN MOUNT Filed July 2, 41941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jogy" Tfoiftef Jan. 11,y 1944. .n.c. TRo'r'rER y 2,339,226 I GUN MOUNT Filed July 2, 1941 :s sheets-sheet s' Patented Jan. 11, 1944 GUN MOUNT John c.Y Trotter, Williamsville, N. Y., assignor to Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application July 2, 1941, Serial No. 400,761

(.Cl. Sli-42) 7 Claims.'

This invention relates to guns of the so-called machine or rapid re type, and more particularly to improved means for mounting such guns.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved gun mount of the recoil shock absorbing type. Another object is to provide an improved gun mount for the purpose stated which is adapted to absorb and damp recoil movements of the associated gun in an improved manner. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun mount for the purpose stated which is adapted to accommodate guns of various size and mass, in an improved manner` Another object is to provide a gun mount for the purpose stated which is adapted to support an associated gun in variously elevated attitudes in an improved manner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan of a gun mount of the invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially along line II-II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of another form of the gun mount.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a machine gun which is designated generally at I!) and which is arranged to be reciprocatively mounted upon a bracket I2. An integral bearing post I4 extends below the bracket I2 for rotationally mounting the bracket upon a bearing carried by the g-un mount base (not shown). Thus, the bracket I2 is rotatable about the axis extending longitudinally through the post I4 for azimuth adjustments of the mounted gun while the gun is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally relative to the bracket I2 in response to the recoil forces of the gun iiringy operation. member carrying the post I4 will be arranged to tilt vertically for elevational adjustments of the mounted gun.

At the front end of the bracket I2 the gun' I6 is mounted upon opposite side wall portions I6 of the bracket by means of a pair of pins 26 which are inserted transverely into the body of the gun casing from opposite sides thereof and are" arranged so as to extend at their outer ends into connection with corresponding slide bearing plates 22 which are arranged to lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun and to be engaged within slideway portions 24 formed at op posite side walls I6 of the bracket I2. Thus, thel It will be understood that the plates 22 are arranged to move as a unit with 56 the gun I Il as it reciprocates relative to the brack' et I2; the plates r22 carrying the load of the gun at the forward end of the bracket and guiding the gun thereat against vertical displacement relative to the bracket I2. The opposite side wall portions I6 of the bracket I2 maintain the gun I0 against lateral displacements relative to the bracket I2.

At the rear end of the bracket I2 its side arm portions converge to join an integral end plate portion 26 thereof which is arranged to carry the recoil shock absorbing and movement damping mechanism of the mount and to operatively connect thereat with the gun I0 so as to providev a two-point connection mounting for the gun re1- ative to the bracket I2. For this purpose the rear mounting lugs 30 of the gun are engaged-by a bolt 32 which extends through opposite slotted portions 34' of the bracket 4I2 and is provided adjacent its opposite ends with spacer sleeves 36 and xing nuts 38 so that the bolt 32 may be rigidly xed to moveas a unit with the gun lugs 36. Intermediately of the gun lugs 30 the bolt 32 engages through a force arm 40 which slidably rests upon the upper surface portion of the bracket plate 26 (Fig. 2) and is formed with an integral downwardly and forwardly extending arm portion 42 carrying a transverse pin 44 are ranged to extend so as to pivotally engage corre'- sponding eye sections 45 of oppositely disposed piston rods 46. The piston rods 46 are arranged to extend parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the gun II) and to carry corresponding piston heads 48 which slidably engage within oppostely disposed cylinders 50 carrying compression springs 5I for absorbing the recoil forces of the gun :liring operation. The cylindersrSIl arewcarried at their rearend portions vby means of pivot connections 52 upon an end bracket 54 which is bolted to the bracket plate 26, as at 56.

.The cylinders 50 are provided With oil and air reservoir chambers 58 so that thelpiston heads are adapted toforce oil from the corresponding cylinders 50 through metering orlces 59 leading into the reservoirs-for damping the counter recoil action of the springs 5I. vThe force arm 40 and the bracket member I 2 are formed with cooperating keyway portions as indicated at 60, whereby the force arm is guided by the bracket I2 to slide relative thereto in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun during recoil and counter recoil strokes of the latter. Thus, the gun is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally upon the bracket I2 while the piston-cylinder mechanisms 46--50 absorb the recoilforces of the gun and generate the necessary counter recoil forces for returning the gun between each cartridge firing operation to battery position, while the fluid displacement operations within the piston-cylinder mechanisms operate to damp the 4recoil and counter recoil movements of the gun so as to soften the action thereof and to prevent damaging of the relatively moving parts. It will be understood that whereas a specific form of spring and fluid combination shock absorbing and counter recoil damping mechanism is shown and described in conjunction with the piston-cylinder devices IB- 50, such devices are not per se, the subject of the present patent application, and any other suitable form of recoil absorbing and counter recoil and damping devices may be employed in lieu thereof, within the concept of the present invention.

To provide for a wide range of adaptability of the gun mount tovarious types and sizes of gun units and in connection with various elevational adjustments thereof, an auxiliary recoil absorbing compression spring 'I0 is mounted within a longitudinally bored portion of the force arm 40 so as to seat against a forward end portion thereof. An abutment member I2 is inserted within the bore of the force arm to bear against the opposite end of the compression spring 10, and the abutment I2 is carried by a screw 'I4 which is mountedin screwthreaded connection upon the end bracket 54 so as to be'longitudinally adjustable upon rotation of the screw -to vary the com-u' pressive forces exerted by this spring 'I0 against the forward end lof the force arm 40. A lock nut 'I6 is 'arranged adjacent the headed end portion 18 of the screw "I4 for convenient manipulation of the screw in connection with spring adjusting movements thereof.

Thus, the'spring 10 is adapted to assist the piston-cylinder devices in resistin-g and absorbing recoil forces of the'gun in connection with each cartridge firing operation, and also exerts additional counter recoil producing forces against the force arm 40 immediately following each recoil movement of the gun. Obviously, the forces exerted by the spring 10 may be readily adjustable from externally vof the mechanism, and thus there is provided conveniently adjustable means for varying the action of the recoil-responsive mechanism of the' gun mount of the invention. Consequently, adjustments may be readily made when necessary to compensate for variationsY in the magnitudes of recoil forces, such as occur in connection with -use of llighter or heavier ammunition', or uponalteration of the elevational angle of the gun, or the like, and under all gun operating conditions perfect absorption of recoil shocks and damping of counter recoil movements may be attained. Y

It will be understood -that in the mount of the invention provision is made whereby the gun is connected relative `to bracket'lZ at two spaced points, inthe regions of the bearing plates 22 and in the regions of the keyway portions 60; and that all loads imposed upon the bracket I2 from the gun I0, with exception of strictly longitudinally directed recoil forces, are carried by the slide connection devices 22-60. Thus, the piston-cylinder and spring recoil and counter reco-il and damping mechanisms of the mount of the invention are entirely relieved of bending or other loads incidental' to the gun firing operation except strictly longitudinally directed forces o-f the gun recoil and counter recoil operations.

Also, it will be `appreciat-ed that the recoil absorbing and counter recoil mechanism of the invention comprises an unusually compact and rugged unit in that the adjustable auxiliary spring member 1.0 is contained interiorly of the force arm 40 while adjustments of the forces developed thereby are arranged to be manipulated from externally of the mechanism. Thus, a particularly advantageous unit is provided which is selfcontained and substantially nested within the compass of the gun unit while being Widely adaptable to varying gun firing conditions and to the mounting of guns of various sizes and types. Also, it Will be understood that the mounting bracket I2 provides convenient base means for attachment of a cartridge belt feed throat thereon, as indicated at (Fig. l), and a cartridge belt magazine 82; whereby the gun and magazine mount and recoil and counter recoil mechanisms are arranged to comprise a unitary mechanism of compact and functionally improved form.

Fig. 3 illustrates another form of the gun mount of the invention in conjunction with a gun indicated generally -at |00, wherein the gun mount device is pivotally carried upon a yoke |02 by means of a pair of bolts |04 located at opposite sides thereof. It will be understood that the yoke |02 will be carried at its lower end upon any suitable supporting base (not shown) so as to be pivotable thereon for aiming adjustments of the mounted gun. The'yoke |02 carries at its upper end, by means of bolts |04, a pair of brackets |06 disposed at opposite sides of the gun |00. The brackets mii-|05 have front end downwardly extending portions |01 for rigidly engaging at their lower ends with a transverse tie member |08 extending below the gun |00 so as to provide a gun supporting cradle structure. In the region of the bolts |04 the bracket plates |06 are formed with downwardly extending portions |00 terminating in looped sections ||0 arranged to enclose upon in xed relation corresponding gun bearer tubes 2 which extend from points of fixed connections at ||4 with the front end bracket portions IGT-|07 and rearwardly therefrom and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun into connections at IIE- IIB with opposite ends of a transverse tie bracket IIB.

The rear gun mounting lug |20 carries a bolt 22'connecting at its opposite ends to corresponding sleeves |24 which are slidably mounted upon the opposite bearer tubes |2-I I2. Adjacent the forward end portions of the bearer tubes ||2 a transversely disposed gun mounting bracket |26 isV rigidly xed to gun |00 Iand is arranged toy extend at its opposite ends so as to slidably enclose thereat upon the bearer tubes. Thus, the gun |00 is arranged to be longitudinally freely slidable relative to the bearer tubes ||2||2 and the bracket device HBS-|06.

Each of the bearer tubes I |2-'-I I2 carries :a cylinder |30 having its bored portion extending longitudinally of the gun recoil movement direction and pivotally connected at its rear end -by means of a pin |32 to abracket |34 which is mounted by means of pins as at |36 Iand extends upwardly from thecorresponding bearer tube l2. A piston rod |40 is provided in conjunction with each of the cylinders |30 and is pivotally mounted at its forward end by means of a pin |62 upon the corresponding bracket portion |25 so as to be reciprocable with the gun |00 relative to the cylinders |30 which are -stationarily mounted upon the bearer tubes. Interiorly of the cylinder-piston mechanisms 30-I40, they are provided with any suitable recoil shock absorbing and counter-recoil movement producing elements, as in the case of the cylinder piston mechanism S9- d6 of Figs. l and 2, whereby upon firing of the gun 1D0 the recoil forces thereof will be transmitted through the piston rods Idil-lill) into the shock absorbing and counter recoil mechanisms of the cylinders Il. Thus, during ring operations the gun lili! will reciprocate longitudinally relative to the bearer tubes i2-H2 and the supporting yoke IGZ in connection with recoil force absorbing and counter recoil movements of the gun as explained hereinabove in the case or" the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l and 2. it will be noted particularly that because the gun is primarily mounted upon and slidably carried by the bearer tubes l lZ-i i2 at relatively widely spaced intervals therealong, and because the piston-cylinder' mechanisms Edil-i3!) are pivotally mounted at their opposite ends relative to the balance of the mechanism they are subjected only to the strictly longitudinally directed forces of the-recoil and counter recoil actions; and the recoil absorbing counter recoil providing mechanisms are thereby completely shielded from possible bendingr moments, and smooth and uninterrupted operation of the units is assured. Also, it will be appreciated that the operative elements of the gun mount mechanism are of particularly rugged and simplified structural form, and yet they are relatively iarranged so as to be closely nested' with respect to the mounted gun IM! whereby the advantages of effective shock absorbing operation aie obtained Without appreciable addition to the bulk of the mounted gun.

To provide for feeding a cartridge belt to the gun i033 a cartridge belt feed throat E! is mounted upon one of the brackets IGS so yas to register with the cartridge feedway of the gun, and the bracket portions ll and |313 at the same side of the gun provide convenient means for mounting attachment brackets E52 for carrying the cartridge belt magazine in such manner as to be maintained in operative registry with the cartridge belt feed throat i5!) under all gun aiming conditions.

I claim:

l. In combination, -a gun, a gun mount including a bracket for supporting said gun, said bracket having a pair of spaced slide connection portions disposed to extend longitudinally of the gun direction, means extending from said gun and engaging one of said bracket slide connection portions and mounting said gun in longitudinally slidable relation upon said bracket, a force arm pivotally connected to said gun and extending therefrom into slide bearing relation upon the other of said bracket slide connection portions, a self-contained recoil shock absorbing and counter recoil providing device including a cylinder extending at one end thereof, a pivotal connection device engaging said cylinder with said bracket against longitudinal movement of said cylinder relative to said bracket, a piston Within said cylinder and slid-able relative thereto in directions longitudinally of said gun, said force arm having a portion extending integrally therefrom into pivotal connection with said piston for actuation of said piston Within said cylinder in accord with reciprocatve movements of said gun relative to said bracket, spring means mounted Within said cylinder and arranged to elastically resist gun recoil responsive movements of said piston, compression reservoir means carried by said cylinder and arranged in open communication with the fluid-tight chamber provided by said piston-cylinder device, an auxiliary spring device mounted to bear at one of its ends against said -force arm and at the other of its ends against said bracket for elastically resisting recoil movements of said gun relative to said bracket, and means for adjusting the force action of said auxiliary spring and operable to adjust said action from externally of said .device 2. A gun mount device including a bracket for supporting a gun so as to be reciprocable relative thereto in directions longitudinally of the gun, said bracket having a pair of slide connection portions relatively spaced in a direction longitudinally of. the gun, one of said bracket slide connection portions being adapted to engage and mount said gun in longitudinally slidable relation thereon, a force arm mounted in slide bearing relation upon the other of said bracket slide connection portions and adapted to be pivotally connected to said gun, a recoil shock absorbing and counter-recoil providing device including a cylinder extending at one en d thereof into pivotal connection with said bracket against longitudinal movement of said cylinder relative to said bracket and having a piston therein, said force arm having means extending therefrom into pivotal connection with said piston for actuation of said piston within said cylinder in accord with reciprocatve movements of said gun relative to said bracket, elastic means mounted within said cylinder and arranged to elastically resist gun recoil responsive movements of said piston, and an auxiliary spring device mounted to bear at one of its ends against said force arm and at the other of its ends against said bracket for elastically resisting recoil movements of said gun relative to said bracket, said auxiliary spring device being adjustable to vary the force action thereof from externally of said device.

3. A gun mount including a bracket for supporting a gun, said bracket having plural slide connection means spaced longitudinally of the gun direction and adapted to engage a mounted gun in longitudinally slidable relation thereon, a recoil shock absorbing and counter-recoil providing device including a cylinder pivotally xed at one of its ends to said bracket by means of a pivot connection device and having a piston therein slidable in directions longitudinally 0f said gun, a force arm pivotally connected at one of its ends to said piston and adapted to connect at its other end to said gun for actuation of said piston in accord with reciprocatve movements of said gun relative to said bracket while said piston and cylinder are supported as a unit at opposite ends thereof solely by means of pivotal connection devices so as to be free of cantilever bending forces, and spring means mounted within said cylinder and arranged to elastically resist gun recoil movements of said piston relative to said cylinder.

4. A gun mount including a bracket for supporting a gun, said bracket having plural slide connection means spaced longitudinally of the gun direction and adapted to engage a mounted gun in longitudinally slidable relation thereon, a recoil shock absorbing and counter recoil providing device including a cylinder pivotally xed at one of its ends to said bracket by means of a pivot connection device and having a piston therein slidable in directions longitudinally of said gun, a force arm pivotally connected at one of its ends to said piston and adapted to connect at its other end to said gun for actuation of said piston in accord with reciprocatve movements of said gun relative to said bracket While said piston and cylinder are supported as a unit at opposite ends thereof solely by means of pivotal connection devices so as to be free of cantilever bending forces, spring means mounted within said cylinder and arranged to elastically resist gun recoil movements of said piston relative to said cylinder, an auxiliary spring device mounted to bear at one of its ends against said force arm and at the other of its ends against said bracket for elastically resisting recoil movements of said gun relative to said bracket, and means for adjusting the force action of said auxiliary spring operable from externally of said device.

5. A gun mount including a bracket for supporting a gun, said bracket having slide connection means at opposite sides of said gun adapted to engage the latter in longitudinally slidable re lation thereon, a recoil shock absorbing and counter recoil providing device at each side of said bracket including a cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said bracket and having a piston therein slidable in directions longitudinally of the gun, a force arm pivotally connected to each of said pistons and extending therefrom into connection With the gun for actuation of the pistons in accord with reciprocative movements of said gun relative to said bracket, spring means mounted within said cylinders and arranged to elastically resist gun recoil movements of said pistons, and hydro-pneumatic pressure reservoir means arranged in open communication with the fluid-tight chambers provided by said piston-cylinder devices.

6. A gun mount including a bracket for supporting a gun, said bracket having a pair of slide connection means, one of said means being adapted to engage said gun in longitudinally slidable relation thereon, a recoil shock absorbing and counter recoil providing device including aA cylinder pivotally connected to said bracket and having a piston therein slidable in directions longitudinally of said gun, a force arm pivotallf,7 connected to said piston and extending for connection to said gun for actuation of said piston in accord with reciprocative movements of said gun relative to said bracket, said force arm having a slide connection portion thereof disposed in slide bearing cooperation with the other of said bracket slide connection means for cooperation with said iirst mentioned slide connection means `lor supporting said gun relative to said bracket at two spaced points of mounting connection for sliding relative movement in directions longitudinally of said gun, spring means mounted Within said cylinder and arranged to elastically resist gun recoil movements of said piston, an auxiliary spring device mounted to bear at one of its ends against said force arm and at the other of its ends against said bracket for elastically resisting Arecoil movements of said gun relative to said bracket, and means for adjusting the elastic forces of said auxiliary spring operable from externally of said device.

7. A gun mount and recoil control device comprising, a bracket adapted to function as a base for a gun, said bracket having a longitudinal guiding surface formed thereon, a force arm mounted upon said bracket guiding surface so as to be slidable relative thereto in conjunction with recoil and counter recoil movements of the gun relative to said bracket, a recoil force absorbing and counter recoil movement producing device including a piston cylinder mechanism adapted to be alternately retracted and extended in conjunction with recoil and counter recoil movements of the gun relative to said bracket, said piston cylinder device being pivotally connected at its opposite end portions to said force arm and to a stationary portion of said bracket, respectively, and means carried by said force arm to connect to the gun for thereby mounting the gun for recoil and counter recoil movements upon said bracket and for actuating said force arm in conjunction with such movements to actuate said recoil control and counter recoil movement producing device.

JOHN C. TROTTER. 

